Morris tribune., 1887-03-30

| NFanupa FranklanQ Speeueu ~ OlI
its way, wondering much at the pecu-
liar idosyncrasies of giddy young peo-
pie.
Richard, grieve to state, swore over
his friends instructive and admom-
tory letter, and then sent this tele-
gram to Frederick Firth, in Sherman:
Obliged for advice. A pack OF lies.
Will write to- morrow"
That afternoon Richard Dale and
Julia FARMLAND were seen together Ill
Richards buggy.
Just as Miss Lawndes was saying,
"Of course, it 9 all settled now!" the
buggy stopped before the door, and
Richard helped Julia to alight:
Miss Ilawndes," said Richard, as
that lady hurried to the door, "Miss
Frankland and | are determined to
learn how our names came to be con-
nected in a manner which has caused
us great annoyance. We have made
two calls, and in each we have been
referred to you"
Miss Lawndes looked angry and
embarrassed. She replied stit1y:
II prefer to refer you to some one
else all the village saw it."
ITO whom do you refer u.s." asked
Richard, looking very stern.
Mrs. Allen saw it just after l did,
and the Poulett girls just before; you
must excuse me-
Then Miss Lawndes reiterated into the
| house; for never since she had Fitted
on" Richards youthful shirt-waists,
| had she seen him look so annoyed
and angry.
What in the mischief does she
mean?" exclaimed Richard.
Let us go to Mrs. Allen," said
Julia.
They found Mrs. Allen working at
| her flower beds. When she realized
the presence of these two in her path,
she raised herself ponderously, and
looked at them over her spectacles.
Mrs. Allen" said Richard, ''will
you please tell us what You have ever
seen to cause you to think there was
any Irritation between Miss Frankland
and MYSELF"
Mrs. Allen looked around for some
support, but finding nothing nearer,
retreated to the doorstep and sat
down, while the two young people
stood in front OF her.
You want to know, Richard, do
you? Well, l thought you'd have
! heard it a dozen times in the last three
weeks. So there isn't anything in it,,
is there?" she said, in a slow way.
Miss Frankland is engaged to a
gentleman for whom have the highest
regard, and we have never imagined
that our names could beconnected till
this morning, when we received letters
! from friends at q distance, informing
us that we were the victims OF some
objectionable gossip whose name we
are now determined to find out"
"Well, Richard" said Mrs. Allen,
clasping her fat hands around her
garden trowel, "you walked down
Main street on the 28th day of April
with long red fringe off Of jules col
lar hanging to the top button OF your
coat, and all the village noticed it. "
Did II" said Richard, impatiently,
"and what more?"
what more? Seems to me most
| people would think if mans coat
was that near to d girls collar-no,
don't mean to say you had kissed her,
but you could have counted her eye
| lashes, Richard" and Mrs. Allan
looked at the two amazed young peo-
pie with deprecating air.
"On the 28th day of April | never
! left my room; had one of my bad
/ sore throats, DR.. Allan knows" ex-
! claimed Julia.
Il was at your house, but only
saw your grandfather about some
deeds" said Richard.
"And my collarette, my red chenille
! collar that George sent me from Paris!
iti y'O '0OlO H0' "''' ''' '" ''
Everybody knows that collar, Jul
liza; there's not another in Sunnydale
a long red fringe, with a little gold
tassel at the end of it," said Mrs.
! Allan.
Mrs. Allan, l ask you to take my
word for it that Miss Frapkland and
l have neither firted; that | did not
see her on that day, and am utterly
ignorant as to how a piece of her fringe
became attached to my coat button, "
said Richard, in g. firm tone.
Then the two puzzled, angry young
people drove away, this time to Mr..
| Frankland's. Bessie Frankland was
hanging on the gate.
Bessie" said Julie, "tell me, did
you ever take my red collarette out
| of my room? l won't scold-not one
word-but Mr.. Dale and must know
the truth"
Bessie considered few moments,
then said:
at was ages ago-the day wegot the
last arbutus. l only had it on for a
minute
"Where did you put it afterwards"
"Back in your drawer-oh! first
hung it on the hatstand; l guess it was
there till after supper, buG l didn't
hurt it scrap, and l put it back in
your drawer when [ took up your
supper. You were sick that day"
"There! You caught the fringe on
your coat when you got your hat and
cane." exclaimed Julie, with beaming
face. Bessie, get your hat and come
with u.s."
"Well, I'll swear"
"No, don't swear, Mr.. Dale; you've
no need. 1t has been the hardest on
me-" said Julie.
"That's all you know about it, y
growled Richard, as he helped Bessie
into the buggy; and thereupon jules
quick wit revealed to her various
things.
They drove first to Mrs. Aliens
where Bessie related her performance
with the collarette, and then Julie,
looking down the street, suddenly ex'
claimed
"There's Dolly Firth tying up her
honeysuckles! Let's go there! I can't
bear to think she would have believed
me firt, the darling grill"
81 will not!" said Richard Dale, in a
surly, defiant tone.
Yes, you will. Bessie, just take the
reins; Mr.. Dale likes to have little
girls drive" said Julie.
Bessie took the reins, and Richard
leaning back in his seat with an air OIL
indifference, was driven into the pref.
ty garden where Dolly, standing upon
a ladder, was tying up honeysuckles
Richard only raised his hat slightly
when Dolly turned and viewed this
very unexpected trio, but Julie ex'
IL